State Legislators Against Illegal Guns Holds First Forum in Albany

Bipartisan bicameral legislators organization seeks to learn about efforts to stop illegal guns from cops in the field

May 9, 2011

Albany – State Legislators Against Illegal Guns held its first in a series of educational forums in the State Legislative Office Building. The forum, TOP COPS: What New York Police Departments Are Doing to Stop Illegal Guns, featured law enforcement officials from around the state speaking about their experiences with illegal guns in their respective communities. The panel included Albany Police Chief Steven Krokoff and Assistant Chief Brendan Cox, Binghamton Police Chief Joseph Zikuski, Nassau County Police Officer Paul Cappy of the pistol licensing bureau, New Windsor Police Chief Michael Biasotti, and New York City PD Special Counsel Katherine Lemire. Assemblymembers Michelle Schimel (Nassau County) and Brian Kavanagh (Manhattan) and State Senator Eric Adams (Brooklyn) moderated the discussion.

The New York Chapter of State Legislators Against Illegal Guns is committed to working together to:

1) support common-sense legislation that keeps guns out of the hands of criminals,

3) punish, to the maximum extent of the law, criminals who possess, use, and traffic in illegal guns.

According to Assemblywoman Michelle Schimel, “SLAIG will provide a wealth of educational opportunities for legislators by meeting with law enforcement, faith organizations, and victims of gun violence and other stakeholders who are working towards solutions to protect the public from the effects of illegal guns in NY State.”

“Winning the fight to keep illegal guns out of the hands of criminals in our communities will take cooperation among law enforcement and elected officials at all levels of government,” said Assemblymember Brian Kavanagh. “Today’s forum is about bringing people together, learning from each other, and identifying concrete steps we can take to reduce violence.”

Senator Eric Adams said, “It is imperative that we begin to identify ways to remove illegal guns from our communities.”

SLAIG is planning to hold additional educational forum during the off-legislative session.

SLAIG New York is a bicameral, bipartisan coalition of 54 current and former members of the State Assembly and the State Senate. The SLAIG NY Steering Committee includes Senator Eric Adams, Assemblymember Karim Camara, Assemblymember Jeffrey Dinowitz, Assemblymember Steven Englebright, Senator Ruth Hassell-Thompson, Assemblymember Carl Heastie, Assemblymember Ellen Jaffee, Assemblymember Brian Kavanagh, Senator Jack Martins, Assemblymember Tom McKevitt, Assemblymember Amy Paulin, Assemblymember Audrey Pheffer, Assemblymember Crystal People-Stokes, Senator Bill Perkins, Assemblymember Phil Ramos, Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal, Assemblymember Michelle Schimel, and Senator José Serrano. New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman was a founding co-chair of SLAIG when he was a member of the Senate.